Actor Shelley Fabares, who was best known for her roles in "The Donna Reed Show" and "Coach," has died at 82. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Shelley Fabares, the actor whose decades-long television career started when she was a young teenager on "The Donna Reed Show" and went on to include a starring role on "Coach," has died. She was 82.
What they're saying:
Fabares’ family confirmed her death in a statement to The Associated Press, writing, "To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued and cared for."
Timeline:
Born in Santa Monica, California, Fabares made her television debut at 10 years old on "The Loretta Young Show." Four years later, she got her biggest break after being cast as Mary Stone on "The Donna Reed Show," which ran from 1958 to 1963. Fabares described her time on the show as "incredibly important," going on to praise the impact of the show’s star.
"Donna Reed was simply an extraordinary woman, a woman of great strength, kindness, integrity and compassion," Fabares told the Los Angeles Times in 1993. "I am not trying to make her sound like a saint, but she had the most profound influence on me. I carry her with me today."
In the 1970s, she played Francine Webster on the second of her hat trick of hit shows, CBS’ "One Day at a Time." In 1989, she was cast to play Christine Armstrong in the long-running sitcom "Coach," a series that took time to find its audience but that Fabares said she had faith in from the early days.
"I did always feel from the very beginning if they could find the right spot for us, this was a show that would last," she said in the Los Angeles Times interview.
Her career stretched from the small screen to the silver one and even into music. She played parts in three movies with Elvis Presley and acted alongside legendary names like Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman, Rock Hudson, Rosalind Russell, and Eva Marie Saint. She also played James Caan’s wife in the movie "Brian’s Song."
After signing a recording contract in the early 1960s, Fabares scored two Top 40 hits, including "Johnny Angel."
The backstory:
Fabares, who was a prominent advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness, had been married to M*A*S*H star Mike Farrell since 1984 and was previously married to producer Lou Adler.
The statement from Fabares’ family added, ""We will remember Shelley for her kindness, loyalty, wit, courage, and beautiful spirit. We will miss her deeply — not only as a celebrated performer, but as the loving and extraordinary person she was in our everyday lives."
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.